Press guard



Jan. 24, 1967 K. G. NESS 3,300,009

PRESS GUARD Filed May 19, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l gig www?, ,2/-1'7 n20644/ l ATTORNEYS Jan. 24, 1967 K. G. HEss 3,300,009

PRESS GUARD Filed May 19, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 3l, 1967 R. H.JOHNSON 3,301,083

RESETTING MECHANISM FOR ELECTRIC RELAYS Filed March 26,- 19.64

/0/ //7 1/9/2 for RU/ph H. Johnson /F/ 6 5y /7/'5 affomeys United StatesPatent O 3 301,083 RESETTING MECHANISM FOR ELECTRIC RELAYS Ralph H.Johnson, Manchester, Conn., assignor to The Arrow-Hart & HegemanElectric Company, Hartford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut FiledMar. 26, 1964, Ser. No. 354,853 6 Claims. (Cl. 74-471) This inventionrelates to resetting mechanism for overload responsive relays and, moreparticularly, to means adapted to lbe attached to conventional resettingybuttons or push-rods of conventional electric relays, such as, forexample, thermal overload relays or the like, which are commonly used inconnection with electromagnetic contactors. The invention is notlimited, however, to use with thermal overload relays, but may be usedin connection with any devices operated Iby push-rods or buttons similarto those herein described.

Overload relays are commonly used in pairs in connection with three-wideelectromagnetic contactors. When an overload occurs and both relaysoperate, i.e. trip Iopen, it is desirable to be able to close both bysimultaneously depressing their operating push-rods or but-tons. Whenonly one or the other of the relays opens, it is desirable also to beable to close the tripped relay by operation of the same means which isused to cause the simultaneous closing of both.

According to the present invention, a transverse bar overlies the pushrods or buttons and is connected to them yby novel flexible clips whichenable one or both buttons to trip open, i.e. rise from a normallydepressed conditi-on without hindrance; also, one button may bedepressed or both depressed simultaneously by pressure applied to thetransverse bar. l

It is an object of this invention t-o provide a novel connection`between the push-rods or buttons of electric relays, such as thermaloverl-oad relays or the like, and the transverse connecting bar foroperating them simultaneously.

Another object is to provide such as connection which may be molded orformed in such shape that engagement of the transverse bar with theconnection will cau-se it to grip or more securely embrace the push-rodsor but-tons of the -relays and which will prevent disengagement of theconnection from the buttons due to vibration or any normal force whichmight otherwise cause undesired disengagement of the connection from thebutton and bar.

Another object i-s to provide such a connection which may be slippedquickly and easily onto the push-rods or buttons and as readily andeasily engaged with the cornmon transverse operating rod.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as it isdescribed in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of two thermal overload relays to which theinvention has ybeen applied.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail side elevation view of the clip orconnection embodying the invention for connecting the transverse bar andthe push-rods or buttons of the relays.

FIG. 3 is a View similar to FIG. 2, but with the transverse rod inengagement with the clip.

Referring to the drawing, the usual base plate 10 of the conventionalelectromagnetic contactor assembly (the contactors Ibeing omitted forclarity) has thermally responsive relays 12 and 14 mounted in spacedrelation near each side edge of the plate 10. Two such relays are shownin outline, ybut the invention may be used with more than two; or theinvention may be applied to the relays without a contactor being mountedon the base 10.

3,301,083: Patented Jan. 31, 1967 ICC The specic method and place ofmounting of the relays and the particular construction of the relays isimmaterial so long as the relays are in spaced parallel relation.

The relays may be of any common or conventional type, such as the typedisclosed in the H. E. Schleicher Patent 2,322,161, issued June 15,1943, this type being mentioned merely as an example of one type towhich the invention is particularly adaptable.

Each relay has an operating push-rod 15, 15 which, for convenience,hereinafter will -be referred to as a button. Formed in the oppositesides of the parallel forwardly extending or opstanding edges of thelbuttons near their tops are notches 16 for a purpose hereinafter to bedescribed.

Extending transversely between the relay buttons and overlying the topsthereo-f is a bar, preferably rectangular in cross-section and formed ofmolded insultation or any -other suitable material, for simultaneouslydepressing both of the button-s or one or the other of the buttons asmay be required.

To attach the bar 18 to the buttons, identical connecting members orclips, designated generally yby the numeral 22, are formed to be sliddownwardly onto `the tops of the buttons land to be engaged transverselyby the bar 18.

The clips may be .made of any material possessing suicient toughness andenough Iflexibility for the purposes hereinafter describe-d. Nylon hasbeen found to =be a very satisfactory material since it can be moldedand worked easily and is self-lubricating and tough so as not to -beeasily broken or damaged.

Since the clips are identical, only one need be described. Eachcomprises at body portion 21 in the form of a cap which has an externalrecess whose cross-section is the same as the cross-section of the topportion off the button onto which it is to be slidably litted.

Formed integrally as one piece with and connected to the lower edges ofthe cap portion 21 are arms 22 and 24, respectively, of generallyC-shape, which extend upwar-dly and around the cap portion 21 and haveyinte-gral lingers 23 and 25, respectively, extending inwardly inposition to overlie the parallel longitudinal edges of the top surfaceof the har 18. For this purpose, the arms are positioned and spacedapart a distance slightly *less than the width of the bar 18 `so thatwhen the 'bar 18 is inserted between the arms 22 and 24, they areslightly spread apart as sho-wn in FIG. 3. The arms are formed so astobe capable of some flexing upon the application of moderate manualforce, but to also possess considera-ble stiffness so that when spreadapart, the arms 22 and 24 .pivot or bend about their connection to thebottom outer opposite edges of the cap portion, as shown in FIG. 3. Inso doing, the lower inner edges or shoulders 26 and 28 of the clip enterthe opposite notches 16 of the button, thus aording a tirm lgrip on the-b-utton. For this purpose, the shoulders are relatively more massivethan the connection of the arms to the cap portion.

Since the distance which the shoulders 26 and 28 are apart when the baris engaged with the clips is lless than the width of the button, theclips cannot slip or be shaken olf by the vibrations incident tooperation of the electromagnetic contactor or any other vibration towhich the buttons may be subjected. Indeed, the clips cannot be pulledoff except by the exercise of extraordinary force abnormal to what isexperienced in common usage.

The bar 18 may -be slipped endwise into engagement with the clips or oneedge of the bar may he engaged under one finger, such as 23, and the barmay be pressed into engagement with the other linger which will snapover the top edge of the bar due to the llexi'bility of the 22 and 24.The friction `between the bar and the arms and cap portions of the two(or more) clips is 3 sufficient to hold the bar and clips in assembledcondition.

.Due to the flexibility of the clip, .it is possible `for one button totrip to openaposition, that is to say, to rise from a normally depressedcondition to an upper or non- -depressed condition. Equally well, bothbuttons may trip either together or one after the other and they may bethen depressed simultaneously by pushing upon the bar.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the invention provi-des anovel connection or clip between a transverse operating bar foroperating the buttons of two or more parallel relays so that the buttonsof the relays may be `depressed individually or simultaneously when oneor both relays have been tripped, or are located in non-depressedcondition.

The invention is equally useful and adaptable when the rela-ys are setfor manual operation as described in said Schleicher Patent 2,322,161.

Modifications Within the scope of the invention will occur to thoseskilled in the art. Therefore, the invention is not limited to theprecise 'form of the parts as illustrated and described What is claimedis:

1. The means for connecting and jointly operating a,

plurality of like parallel non-rotary depressible members comprising, abar member overlying the ends of said depressible members, individualmembers for each depressible member separate from said bar memberconnecting said bar member to said depressible members, each connectingmember having a cap portion slidably fitted axially on a depressiblemember, individual arm portions extending sidewise from each said capportion from opposite sides thereof and embracing opposite side edges ofsaid bar member and including finger parts overlying the outer surfaceof said bar portion.

2. The means for connecting and jointly operating a plurality of likeparallel depressible members comprising, a bar member overlying the endsof said de-pressible members, mem-bers connecting said bar member tosaid depressible members, each connecting -member having a cap portionslidably fitted on a depressible member, arm portions extending fromsaid cap portion from opposite sides thereof and embracing oppositesides of said bar member and including finger parts overlying the outersurface of said bar portion, and means causing said cap portion tofirmly grip said depressible member upon engagement of said bar memberwith said connecting member.

3. The means for connecting and jointly operating a plurality of like-parallel depressible members comprising, a bar member overlying theends of said depressible members, members connecting said bar member tosaid depressi'ble members, each connecting member |having a cap portionslidably fitted on a depressi-ble member, arms 'bendably connected tosaid cap portion and extending from said cap portion from opposite sidesthereof and embracing opposite sides of said bar member and includingfinger parts overlying the outer surface of said Ibar portion, said barmember causing flexure of said arms in assembled position of said barmember and connecting member and thus causing firm gripping of thedepressible member by said connecting member.

4. The means for connecting and jointly operating a plurality of likeparallel depressible members comprising, a bar member overlying the endsof said depressible members, members connecting said bar member to saiddepressi-ble members, each connecting member having a cap .portionslida'bly fitted on a depressible member, flexible arms benda-blyconnected to the periphery of said cap portion on opposite sides thereofand embracing opposite sides of said bar member and including lingerparts overlying the outer surface of said bar portion, the width of saidbar member being greater than the distance between the parts of saidarms which the bar member enga-ges thereby pressing said arms apart inassembled position and causing said cap member to more firmly grip saiddepressible member.

5. The combination with at least two depressible members, of a barmember overlying the ends of said depressible members, said depressiblemembers having notches in opposite side edges thereof, membersconnecting said 'bar member and said depressible members, eachconnecting member having a cap portion slidably fitted on a depressiblemember, arm portions extending from said cap .portion on opposite sidesthereof, said arm portions being bendably connected to said cap portionand having shoulder portions adjacent said notches, and means causingsaid shoulders to enter said notches when said bar member and connectingmember are .in assembled condition.

6. The combination with at least two depressible members, of a barmember overlying the ends of said depressible members, said depressiblemembers having notches in opposite side edges thereof, membersconnecting said Ibar member and `said depressi'ble members, eachconnecting member having a cap portion slidably fitted on a depressiblemember, arm portions extending from said ca-p portion on opposite sidesthereof, said arm .portions being bendably connected to said cap portionand having shoulder portions adjacent said notches, said bar membercausing flexure of said arm portions in assembled position of said barmember and said connecting member, said flexure causing said shoulderportions to enter said notches to maintain all said members in assembledposition.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,692,883 11/1928Bennett 74-481 2,773,949 12/1956 Edmunds. 2,813,938 11/1957 Spiezman20D-42 2,941,418 6/1960 Esser et al. 74-551 X 3,004,370 10/1961Tinnerman 287-49 X 3,159,048 12/1964 Clifford 200--50-3 X FOREIGNPATENTS 2,120 of 1900 Great Britain.

FRED C. MATTERN, JR., Primary Examiner.

MILTON KAUFMAN, Examiner.

C. F. GREEN, Assistant Examiner.

1. AN AUTOMATIC CONTROL FOR A PRESS, COMPRISING: A GUARD DOOR; MEANS FORMOVING SAID DOOR BETWEEN OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS; PRESS CONTROL MEANSACTUATED BY SAID DOOR WHEN IN ITS CLOSED POSITION WHEREBY THE CLOSING OFSAID DOOR EFFECTS A CYCLE OF SAID PRESS; TIMER MEANS ASSOCIATED WITHSAID FIRST NAMED MEANS FOR OPENING SAID DOOR AFTER A PORTION OF THECYCLE OF THE PRESS; AND A TIME DELAY RELAY FOR PERIODICALLY RESTARTINGTHE CYCLIC MOVEMENT OF SAID DOOR WHEREBY SAID DOOR REPETITIOUSLY MOVESBETWEEN OPENED AND CLOSED POSITIONS TO EFFECT A REPEATING CONTINUOUSOPERATION OF SAID PRESS UPON EACH CLOSING OF SAID DOOR.